Things To Do in Louisiana This Weekend
Whether you are a culture seeker, food aficionado, outdoor adventurer or history lover, Louisiana is filled with opportunities for you to #FeedYourSoul.
Here's a roundup of fun Louisiana events and activities.
Head to countless festivals. Listen to live music that will get in your bones and never leave. Enjoy world-class fishing, boating and paddling. Get up close with nature on biking and hiking trails. You'll find excellent camping and picnic areas, including well-equipped cabins and RV parks, at many of our Louisiana state parks.
Discover the history of Mardi Gras, see Louis Armstrong's cornet, relive historical moments in Louisiana sports history and so much more when you visit one of Louisiana's museums. There are endless opportunities to immerse yourself in the culture that makes Louisiana such a special place.
Find your Louisiana with these events happening around the state this weekend. Check out a full list of this weekend's events and plan your visit today!
Louisiana Food & Wine Festival
September 19-22
Lake Charles
Forces of culinary excellence unite at the Louisiana Food & Wine Festival. This all-inclusive four-day event showcases hundreds of wines, beers and spirits; more than 40 acclaimed restaurants; and the Southeast’s hottest established and burgeoning chefs. Enjoy master classes, a grand tasting, a jazz brunch and more.
Round out your visit to Lake Charles with a nature hike, or spot native plants and wildlife on the estuaries of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. Once the sun sets, try your luck at one of the area’s famed casinos.
Pioneer Heritage Festival
September 20-21
Greenwood
Celebrate the enduring spirit of Louisiana’s early settlers at the Pioneer Heritage Festival. Enjoy a bass tournament, carnival rides, a pancake breakfast and live entertainment — after you stop by a concession stand for a crisp-yet-soft funnel cake dusted with dreamy powdered sugar, that is. Later, stop by the chili cook-off for a spicy bowl of warm, fall goodness.
While you’re in Greenwood, visit Gators & Friends, a thrilling family-friendly adventure park. Minutes from State Line Lake, a skyline-cerulean fishing reservoir flanked with pines, Gator & Friends offers an exotic petting zoo complete with ostriches, lemurs, camels and — you guessed it — alligators.
Learn more about Shreveport-Bossier.
Bayou Teche Fest
September 21
New Iberia
Embrace Louisiana’s joie de vivre at Bayou Teche Fest. Beginning Saturday morning and ending around 1 p.m., this festival is well-worth an earlier start to your day. You’ll be saying “oooh” and “ahhh” as you check out the rows of classic cars and stunning wooden boats. And you’ll definitely be looking for seconds of tasty food-truck fare as you enjoy hours of live entertainment.
In the afternoon, keep your taste buds sizzling with a visit to the renowned Tabasco factory on Avery Island. History buffs can stop by the Bayou Teche Museum then go for a tour of the nation’s oldest rice mill. Or take advantage of the fresh air with a short paddle trip down the Bayou Teche.
Plan your visit to Iberia Parish.
Lago Fest
September 21
Mandeville
Immerse yourself in Mandeville’s rich Hispanic culture and traditions at Lago Fest. Free and family-friendly, there’s something fun for everyone. Dance to Latin rhythms and show off your bachata and salsa moves or participate in one of the dance classes. Sample culinary delights and watch demonstrations of traditional recipes. There will also be activities and entertainment especially for the kiddos.
After an evening of dancing, food and fun, rest up at the Marvilla Guest House. Just one block from Lake Pontchartrain and close to local shops and boutiques, it’s an ideal home base for a weekend by the lake. Or spend your night closer to nature with a cabin or campsite at Fontainebleau State Park where hiking trails, boat launches and fishing spots are at your fingertips.
Louisiana Soul Food Fall Festival
September 20-22
Shreveport
Celebrate three days of the South’s most comforting dishes at the Louisiana Soul Food Fall Festival. Come hungry as there will be plenty to eat along with appetite-whetting competitions like judged soul-food cook-offs. Past events have also featured donut-eating and cupcake-decorating contests.
Burn off some calories with a stroll along the Arthur Teague Parkway Trail, an 8-foot-wide multi-purpose path that runs along the southern banks of the Red River. Paddlers can launch their kayak or boat from the public boat launch near the Shreveport Dog Park. Or walk through the city and check out local sights.
Natchitoches Parish Rodeo
September 20-21
Natchitoches
Western spirit comes alive at the annual Natchitoches Parish Rodeo. Watch talented cowpokes compete in events like barrel racing and calf roping. Bring the family for kid-friendly events like mutton bustin’ (a fun name for sheep riding) and calf scrambles. Then, return the following week for carnival rides and fun at the Natchitoches Parish Fair. Get tickets for one or both events.
Arrive a few hours before the rodeo for some time in and around town. Sports fans can learn about great local athletes like Terry Bradshaw and Hal Sutton at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Meanwhile, active visitors can hop on a bike or paddle trail. Be sure to try one of the city’s infamous meat pies — there’s even a festival around them.
Plan your trip to Natchitoches.
NOMAD Music Festival
September 21
Lafayette
NOMAD Music Festival brings local indie-folk sound to downtown Lafayette. If you’re a fan of bright acoustic sets, you’ll love the lineup, which includes Zach Edwards & The Medicine, Kaleb Olivier and headliner Happy Landing. While you’re there you can grab festival souvenirs, play lawn games and nom on tasty snacks.
What’s a folk music festival without some time in nature? Located ten minutes from downtown Lafayette, Acadiana Park offers six miles of hiking trails, disc-golf courses and 150 acres of lush, forested greenspace. Or enjoy more local music at Prejean’s Sunday brunch along with plates of delicious southern cooking.
Oktoberfest Under the Umbrellas
September 21
Slidell
Celebrate German culture at Slidell’s beloved Umbrella Alley during Oktoberfest Under the Umbrellas. Wear your best lederhosen or dirndl and join the festivities. Sip sudsy beers, nom on Bavarian delights (think: bratwurst and giant pretzels) and listen to brass-band-style music — there may even be some traditional dancing. Plus, snag beautiful flower crowns and other treats.
Before the festival, spend some time exploring the area with some antique browsing and a bike ride along the Tammany Trace into neighboring towns like Lacombe. Or relax with lakefront views along the water at the cozy Northshore Beach.
Westbank Heritage Festival
September 21-22
Westwego
Witness the best of Louisiana’s music and culinary culture at the Westbank Heritage Festival! This two-day event highlights live music, local artisans and craft food and beverage vendors (think: sno-balls, andouille sausage and chicken wings). The main stage, filled with jazz, blues and country sounds, reflects Louisiana’s long standing musical traditions. Make time to stop by the gospel tent, which mirrors a decades-old practice inspired by New Orleans’s Jazz & Heritage Festival.
After the thrill of the festival, wind down at Grand Isle State Park, a secluded paradise with trails, campsites and peaceful waterfront views. Drive down on the Louisiana River Road one of Louisiana’s 19 scenic byways for stunning views and can’t-miss pitstops.
Plan your visit to Jefferson Parish.
Gonzales Hispanic Heritage Festival
September 22
Gonzales
The Hispanic community has shaped Gonzales’ distinct culture since the city’s beginning. At the Gonzales Hispanic Heritage Festival, catch the joyous spirit of a vibrant celebration that centers around community, culture and heritage. Enjoy delicious smoked-paprika-and-saffron-infused paella, traditional Spanish dancing and local artistry.
After the festival, learn more about the city at the Tee Joe Gonzales Museum, where furniture, photographs and clothing from the city’s founder lives. When night falls, head downtown and enjoy a full-bodied stout at Gilla Brewing Co.
Start exploring Ascension Parish.
Make Plans for Louisiana This Month
Whether it's one of our many exciting festivals or an adventure in the great outdoors, there is always something unique to experience in Louisiana. Be sure to check our calendar of events for the most up-to-date list of festivities.
